Middle English Dictionary Entry
elitrōpe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | elitrōpe n. Also eliscrope, elitrepie, eliotropus, -ius, -ia, -ion. |
| Etymology | OF & various ML variants of L hēliotropium (from Gr.). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Any of various plants which respond to the movement of the sun. [See Osiris 3.22-46.]
Associated quotations
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)92.49/1 : Eliotropus..oþrum naman siȝelhweo[r]fa.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)124.109/2 : Nim þa wyrt solago minor, oþrum namen elyotropion.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)223b/a : Elitropium..haþ þat name for he blowwiþ in þe styntynge of þe sonne in þe somer whan þe day is lengest, oþer for he beriþ & torneþ þe lef aboute wiþ þe moeuynge of þe sonne.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)227b/b : Floures som tyme torneþ towarde þe sonne and openeþ hemself and sprediþ more and more as þe sonne ryseþ hyȝer and hyere, as it fareþ in þe herbe eleutropia [L elitropia] þat hatte solsequium also and is þe rodeworth, and manye clepiþ it cicorea.
- a1450 Dc.291 Lapid.(Dc 291)33 : Who þat takith þe herbe elyotrope [Peterb.Lapid. 86: elytrepie].. & yef he put hit with þe ston, he shall go there as he wolde.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)190 : Rodewort is clepid solsequium in latyn and elitropia in greke.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1310 : The marygold, clepyd the elytrope.
2.
The precious stone heliotrope, bloodstone.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.844 : Fyve Stones mo..Jaspis and Elitropius.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)199b/b : Eliotropia is a precious stone and is grene and is yspronge wiþ þe dropis and veynes of colour of blood.
- a1450 Dc.291 Lapid.(Dc 291)33 : Elyotrope is a stone of swiche kynde, þat yef a man put hit in a vessell ful of water ayeins þe sonne she shal make þe sonne smered.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)6778 : Wroght of a ston..Eliotropia was the name, A ston..Which..Maketh a man Invisible.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)986 : The Elithrope, whyche ys the sonnys foo And venym sleeth.
- a1500 BodAdd.A.106 Lapid.(BodAdd A.106)54 : Elyscrope is a precyous ston..Yis ston comes of Ethyope, of Cyper, & of Aufryk.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)87 : Þis elitropia is gren, & spreynede with red droppes & waynes as colour of blode.